Ben is in the coffin. He left the island somewhat of his own free will.
He eventually comes to realize that he is no longer 'the chosen one', so to speak after John Locke shoots him in ep 4.03 because Jacob asks him to.
The teenage son the newspaper clipping refers to is Karl. Karl is Ben's son, which adds even more dimension to how vehemently Ben opposes his seeing Alex (even though she is not his biological daughter).
One can imagine that judging by the state of Jack's life once they return that Ben's must be far, far worse--actually compelling him to commit suicide. While Jack had a life prior to the crash, and things he believed he wanted to get back to, Ben had neither. For all intents and purposes, he lived his whole life on the island, and had no reason to want to leave the island--except that he was no longer welcomed by Jacob.
Jack goes to the viewing because he believes that if anyone could have helped him get back, it would be him. Ben warned Jack all along that he shouldn't make the call, that he shouldn't get rescued with them. Hindsight being 20/20, Jack perhaps also feels responsible for everything that's transpired since that call. Kate doesn't care because she doesn't want to go back for obvious reason, and not-so-obvious ones also, I suspect.
Theory by coryjscott
He eventually comes to realize that he is no longer 'the chosen one', so to speak after John Locke shoots him in ep 4.03 because Jacob asks him to.
The teenage son the newspaper clipping refers to is Karl. Karl is Ben's son, which adds even more dimension to how vehemently Ben opposes his seeing Alex (even though she is not his biological daughter).
One can imagine that judging by the state of Jack's life once they return that Ben's must be far, far worse--actually compelling him to commit suicide. While Jack had a life prior to the crash, and things he believed he wanted to get back to, Ben had neither. For all intents and purposes, he lived his whole life on the island, and had no reason to want to leave the island--except that he was no longer welcomed by Jacob.
Jack goes to the viewing because he believes that if anyone could have helped him get back, it would be him. Ben warned Jack all along that he shouldn't make the call, that he shouldn't get rescued with them. Hindsight being 20/20, Jack perhaps also feels responsible for everything that's transpired since that call. Kate doesn't care because she doesn't want to go back for obvious reason, and not-so-obvious ones also, I suspect.
Theory by coryjscott
